Kevin Vargas Hits 4:16 400 IM Personal Best on Day 2 of Speedo Grand Challenge

2021 CA SPEEDO GRAND CHALLENGE

• May 28-31, 2021
• Woollett Aquatic Center, Irvine, CA
• LCM (50m)
• Results on MeetMobile
• Day 2 results here

The 2nd day of the CA Speedo Grand Challenge saw another National Age Group Record fall at the hands of 12-year-old La Mirada Armada swimmer Kayla Han. Han broke Claire Tuggle‘s 11-12 girls 400 free NAG on day 1, then turned around and blasted a new personal best of 4:50.70 in the 400 IM. The swim marked a lifetime best 6 seconds, and shattered the previous NAG of 4:55.35, which was held by Elizabeth Beisel. The swim also marked a Wave I cut for Han, making her the youngest swimmer to qualify for this year’s Olympic Trials.

Justina Kozan won the women’s 400 IM, posting a 4:43.66 to nearly set a new personal best. Unfortunately, like is the case with Han’s swim, splits are unavailable on day 2’s results. However, it was an encouraging swim for Kozan heading into Trials, as it was just off her personal best of 4:42.05.

Santa Maria Swim Club’s Claire Tuggle picked up another win on day 2, taking the women’s 200 free in a tough race with Ella Ristic. As the results only have the first 100s-worth of splits, all we can see is that Tuggle opened up her lead early, flipping at the 100 in 58.59, with Ristic in tow at 59. 00. Tuggle went on to finish in 2:00.11, and Ristic touched right behind, in 2:00.65. Tuggle was off her personal best of 1:58.21, which she swam in August of 2019. She hasn’t been under 2:00 in the event since 2019. Ristic, on the other hand, swam a personal best, coming in under her previous mark of 2:00.99.

University of Florida’s Kevin Vargas cracked a new best en route to winning the men’s 400 IM. Vargas touched first in 4:16.54, chipping just over 2 seconds off his previous best of 4:18.58. The swim is a great sign for Vargas as we sit just 2 weeks out from the Olympic Trials.

German swimmer Marius Kusch posted a 52.61 to win the men’s 100 fly, posting his fastest time of the year. Kusch has been as fast as 51.35 before, back in 2019 at a Pro Swim Series. Linnea Mack backed up her best time 100 fly from earlier in May, swimming a 58.99. That marks Mack’s 2nd 58 of the month. Mack has been in excellent form as we approach the Trials, swimming several lifetime bests.

UCSD swimmer Ivan Kurakin grabbed his first Olympic Trials cut in the 400 free in a time trial following the conclusion of the session.

Other event winners:

• Men’s 200 back: Ronald Dalmacio (Rose Bowl Aquatics) – 2:03.85
• Women’s 200 back: Macky Hodges (Mission Viejo Nadadores) – 2:16.26
• Men’s 400 free: Anders Aistars (Mission Viejo Nadadores) – 3:57.46
• Men’s 50 free: Jesse Novak (Irvine Novaquatics) – 23.01